After ZUMA's success, a number of clones appeared - but the LUXOR series is the one that actually improved on some aspects of the concept. As the series progressed, LUXOR games became more and more self-reliant. With LUXOR 3 the franchise finally comes to age.

A series of colored balls (with the number of different colors increasing every few levels) gets pushed and you have to match them in sets of three or more in order to remove them - and prevent them from reaching the end zone. Instead of having the "shooter" in the center, it is located at the bottom and it slides left and right. This makes for some quite difficult shots (especially when obstructed by the advancing row of balls) and raises the difficulty of the game.
On the other hand, the power-ups are more powerful, at the end of every round a number of coins and gems drop and "catching" them add lives to your paddle. It seems pretty straight-forward yet it can become highly...addictive!

Compared to the first installment of the series, LUXOR 3 is graphically more impressive, enriched as to the dropping bonuses (and...penalties) - yet it will seem somewhat easier to seasoned players of the series; nevertheless, it will fulfill the fans craving for more pharaohnic fun!

This is an example of what has come to be known as Casual Gaming: small, resource-light games that are fun for the whole family.
It would be a good idea to download the 60-min trial version from a casual games site, such as REFLEXIVE (you can Google it), and decide for yourself whether this is indeed your cup of tea. It wouldn't hurt to wait for the price to drop either: most casual games sell for no more than $10.

RECOMMENDED!

It is still the Luxor we know and love, but with a new twist! Now the screen changes from classic screens to puzzle to shoot across the nile screens! It is more interesting for longer continous playing!!! Also remember all the money that was just a way to keep score in Luxor 2? Now the money means something! There is a store to trade the money for better powerups! Anyone who likes the other Luxor games must try this one!!!!

I have played the other Luxor games and also the similar Zuma game. This is the BEST of the bunch. It is challenging, but not impossible to beat. The different modes make it fun. Highly recommended. Evan an old fart (like me) whose reflexes are not lightning fast can do well with it.

I thought Luxor 2 was in many ways a huge step up from the original and Amun Rising, but Luxor 3 easily trumps 2 as the best of the series. My jaw literally dropped when I saw it being played for the first time, and after playing through one difficulty level, I can definitely say that this is the best of the series so far

The fundamentals of gameplay haven't changed; where this game differs from the others is the tweaks to gameplay.

WHAT'S CHANGED:
- The graphics and animations are even more detailed and richly colored than those in Luxor 2. Many backgrounds feature animations, and many have multiple tracks which can also change the direction the chains move. The scarabs now look and move like actual insects, even fluttering their outer wings and looking smashed when a chain is destroyed. Sound effects are also improved.
- New powerups: a match highlighter which shows you what colors can be destroyed; a spiked ball which blocks the entrance to the pyramids; a color switcher which changes all balls of one color to another; and others which seem to only appear in certain stages.
- New stages: puzzle stages where you have to use a set # of balls to destroy set chains of balls; defender stages in which statues block your shooting paths and cause the chains to change course like the mushrooms in Centipede; "crossing the Nile" stages in which you have to clear out long chains to shoot at a chain at the top of the screen, and survival stages in which you simply have to play out a timer. There are also secret stages which can be awarded if you break four special jars during the course of each level
- Powerups start out weak but can be improved by purchasing upgrades with ankh coins collected by blowing up large color groups and floating metal scarabs which randomly appear; you can also use the coins to buy different types of balls and different shooters

PROS:
- Amazing graphics
- The new stages and tweaks to the gameplay make the game feel almost completely new
- It's still as addicting as the other games in the series

CONS:
- As before, the "storyline" really doesn't matter at all to the game
- The glass balls are difficult to use, as the colors are faded-looking in comparison to the others and can be difficult to see on some levels

If you're a fan of the series, this game is a must-have.

I played the download version from MSN and it was GREAT. Has wonderful special effects. Cant wait to get the one I ordered from here. If you liked the other Luxor games you will love this one even more.

Luxor 3 is the best of them all! The graphics are terrific, the game has many elements to it including bonus games and you can buy extra bonuses, it is not shaky and hard to shoot like Luxor 2. I took luxor 2 off my computer. There is a lot to do in this game. This one is well worth the money. I would reccomend this to anyone.

The colored balls now come in a variety of materials including glass and wood. They explode into different flashing shapes as gems and coins drop down at you from all directions. Catch four canopic jars and win a special level to play. Hit the rotating scarab and get more coins drop down which then can be traded in for all kinds of power-ups. The backgrounds are beautifully drawn and gorgeous. The special effects are dazzling. The only down side is that all that flash makes the balls' color harder to spot and harder to concentrate on. A feast for the eye, just a touch overdone.

I bought Luxor 3 because I really enjoyed Luxor 2, however, I beat this new version in nothing flat. It does have some neat new levels but all in all just too easy.

I've played Luxor Amun several times. Luxor3 has great, and I mean great, graphics compared to the original Luxor games. It's great they added more to the game than just shooting balls - like the power up store and special challenges. It's entertaining. The bad things: shooting has delayed speed, the balls are hard to focus on/see with so much lighting/explosions going on. The screen is very busy. As another poster stated - a bit over done. There are extraneous events, like constant fire works, opening/closing of gates, etc. that make the game take longer but doesn't add anything to the challenge/play time. It is definitely worth $8 though.

I admit it - I'm a Luxor-a-holic. I have cheerfully ripped through the earlier versions and greedily got into this one. Some clever innovations and graphics, but it is more difficult for these middle-aged eyes to differentiate colors in this version. Still great fun but more difficult for me to focus.